is none other than Jesus, the Son of God. (Luke 1:31-33) It is, therefore, fitting that Jesus Christ bears the title “the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah.”—Rev. 5:5.

THE TWO-TRIBE KINGDOM COMPARED WITH THE NORTHERN KINGDOM

The kingdom of Judah enjoyed far greater stability and also lasted about 133 years longer than did the northern kingdom. Several factors contributed to this. (1) On account of God’s covenant with David, the royal line remained unbroken, whereas in the northern kingdom less than half of the kings had their own sons succeed them. (2) The continuance of the Aaronic priesthood at the temple in Jerusalem had Jehovah’s blessing and made it easier for the unfaithful nation to return to their God. (2 Chron. 13:8-20) On the other hand, in the northern kingdom the institution and continuance of calf worship was deemed necessary for the preservation of independence from Judah, and apparently for this reason no efforts were ever made to eradicate it. (1 Ki. 12:27-33) (3) Four of the nineteen Judean kings, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah and Josiah, were outstanding in their devotion to true worship and instituted major religious reforms.

However, the history of both kingdoms illustrates the folly of disregarding Jehovah’s commands and trusting in military alliances for security. Also, Jehovah’s long-suffering with his disobedient people is highlighted. Time and again he had sent his prophets to encourage repentance among the people, but often their warnings were not heeded. (Jer. 25:4-7) Among the prophets serving in Judah were Shemaiah, Iddo, Azariah, Hanani, Jehu, Eliezer, Jahaziel, Zechariah, Amos, Hosea, Joel, Micah, Isaiah, Zephaniah, Habakkuk and Jeremiah.—See ISRAEL No. 2 and No. 3.

AFTER THE EXILE

In 537 B.C.E., when Cyrus’ decree permitting the Israelites to return to the land of Judah and there to rebuild the temple went into effect, apparently representatives from the various tribes came back to their homeland. (Ezra 1:1-4; Isa. 11:11, 12) In fulfillment of Ezekiel 21:27, never did a king of the Davidic line administer the affairs of the repatriated people. It is also noteworthy that no mention is made of tribal jealousies, indicating that Ephraim and Judah had indeed become one.—Isa. 11:13.

3. Apparently the same as the Levite Hodaviah or Hodevah, who returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel.—Ezra 2:40; 3:9; Neh. 7:43.

4. A Levite listed among those returning with Zerubbabel.—Neh. 12:1, 8.

5. A Levite among those dismissing their foreign wives and sons.—Ezra 10:23, 44.

6. A Benjamite resident of Jerusalem serving there in a supervisory capacity after the exile.—Neh. 11:7, 9.

7. One in the inaugural march arranged by Nehemiah after the completion of Jerusalem’s wall.—Neh. 12:31, 34.

8. A priestly musician in the inaugural march.—Neh. 12:31, 35, 36.

JUDAH, WILDERNESS OF

The barren, generally uninhabited eastern slope of the Judean mountains. (Judg. 1:16) This wilderness region, extending about ten to fifteen miles (16 to 24 kilometers) in width, begins not far E of the Mount of Olives and stretches some fifty miles (80 kilometers) along the W coast of the Dead Sea. It mainly consists of smooth and rounded barren hills of soft chalk, cleft by torrent valleys and ravines. Toward the Dead Sea the rounded hills give way to rocky gorges and the sea itself is faced by a wall of jagged cliffs. Dropping some 4,000 feet (c. 1,200 meters) in fifteen miles (24 kilometers), this wilderness is shielded from the rain-bearing W winds and therefore receives only limited rainfall. At the same time it is at the mercy of the dry winds that sweep in from the E. But when it does rain, water rushes through the otherwise dry torrent valleys, and for a few weeks in the rainy season the wilderness produces meager vegetation.

David, who sought refuge from Saul in the wilderness of Judah, described it as “a land dry and exhausted, where there is no water.” (Ps. 63:1 and superscription) No stream has its source in the heart of this arid region, and no surface water runs there. In sharp contrast, the stream issuing forth from Ezekiel’s visionary temple flowed through this wilderness and supported trees in abundance along its banks.—Ezek. 47:1-10.

It was undoubtedly into the desolate wilderness of Judah that the ‘goat for Azazel’ was sent on the annual atonement day after being led there from the temple at Jerusalem. (Lev. 16:21, 22) In the first century C.E. John the Baptist began his ministry in a section of this region N of the Dead Sea. (Matt. 3:1-6) Apparently somewhere in this same wilderness Christ Jesus was tempted by the Devil.—Matt. 4:1.

[Picture on page 975]

David’s description of the wilderness of Judah as “a land dry and exhausted, where there is no water,” is appropriate. Its caves have concealed both fugitives and valuable Bible manuscripts

JUDAISM

(Juʹda·ism).

The Jewish religious system. (Gal. 1:13, 14) In the first century C.E., Judaism in its various forms was not based exclusively on the Hebrew Scriptures. One of the most prominent divisions of Judaism, that of the Sadducees, rejected the Scriptural teaching of the resurrection and denied that angels existed. (Mark 12:18-27; Acts 23:8) Although the Pharisees, who formed yet another important branch of Judaism, sharply disagreed with the Sadducees on this (Acts 23:6-9), they were guilty of making God’s Word invalid because of their many unscriptural traditions. (Matt. 15:1-11) Not the Law, which was actually a tutor leading to Christ (Gal. 3:24), but these unscriptural traditions made it difficult for many to accept Christ. The Law itself was good and holy (Rom. 7:12), but the traditions of men served to enslave the Jews. (Col. 2:8) It was an